Electric switch for automobile gasoline tanks



July'l?, 1923. 1,461,825

W. S. LA LONDE ELECTRIC SWITCH FOR AUTOMOBILE GASOLINE TANKS Filed 001'.. 27. 1919 1% Y Mlm Patented July 17, 1923.

UNITED STATES I' WILLIAM S. LA LONDE, OF EVANSTON, ILLINOIS.

ELECTRIC SWITCH FOR AUTOMGBILE GASOLINE TANKS.

Application filed October 27, 1919. Serial No. 333,643.

To all whom it may concern.:

Be it known that I, WILLrAM S. La Lonen, a citizen of the United States, residing at Evanston, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Electric Switches for Automobile Gasoline Tanks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is an electric switch operating mechanism for use particularly in connection with automobile gasoline tanks to indicate electrically a predetermined minimum quantity of gasoline. The object ofthe invention is to provide a. mechanical and electrical means to signal the operator of an automobile or the like when the gasoline in the tank reaches a certain low level and selectively continuing to do so as long as the gasoline in the tank remains at or below the low level, or until the tank is replenished. The invention consists in means for carrying out the foregoing objects, which can be easily and cheaply made, which is satisfactory and positive in operation, and is not readily liable to get out of order. More particularly, the invention consists in features and details of construction7 which will be hereafter more fully set forth in the specification and claims.

Referring to the drawings in which like numerals represent the same parts thruout the several views,

Figure 1 is a plan view of a switch mechanism of this invention showing its method of connection to one of the commercial forms of tank indicating devices.

Figure 2 is a central sectional elevation largely in section, taken thru the left hand half of Figure 1.

On the market today there are numerous forms of gasoline tanks for automobiles having a top 10 and a supplemental case 12 containing a shaft 14 entering the tank, and carrying within the case an arrow 16 which is rotated by mechanism within the tank without novelty, and therefore not described. to indicate the condition in quantity of gasoline in the tank 10. The problem solved by this invention is to connect this arrow or any other normal tank indicating device with an electric switch mechanism which will be closed when the condition of the tank reaches a. certain point and will remain closed while the gasoline remains in the tank at that quantity or a less quantity, and during intervening conditions or periods. .In a

device carrying out the objects the normal glass cover of the case 12 is removed and altered so as to provide a glass cover 13 carrying a casing 20 within which is journaled an insulated drum 22 over which winds the cord 24. One end of this drum extends into case 12 and contains a. crank arm 26 having a crank pin 28 engaging the arm 16. The rope or cord 24 heretofore described eXtends away and is connected to the switch mechanism proper, appearing in the right hand half of Figure 1. This switch mechanism comprises a base plate 30 ou which is pivoted at 32 a bell crank, one of whose arms 34 is in engagement with the rope 24, the other of whose arms 36 is adapted in one position to engage a stop 38. This bell crank arm 36 is normally held against the stop by a retractile spring 40 which is in some installations of the device connected electrically to ground. Bell crank arm 36 terminates in an electric bridging Contact member which in the particular case illustrated happens to be a ball 42 adapted when the bell crank is rotated in clockwiseA direction, to engage two spring contacts 44 and 46 extending from opposite sides of the insulating block 50. Contact 44 is adapted to be connected to an electric circuit wire 52 and Contact 46 is adapted to be connected to a similar wire 54. The block 50 and the contacts 44 and 46 and other parts connected therewith are rigidly mounted and ride upon a lever arm 56 which is in the particular case here illustrated of angular form :und pivoted at 58 to t-he bloc r 50 in close proximity to the pivot 32 of the bell cra-nk so that the bell crank and this lever arm may swing approximately about a common center with the result that if arm 32 is rotated and brought to bear against arm 56, arm 56 may also be rotated, each in a clockwise direction, and bridging contact member 42 will follow and remain in engagement with contacts 44 and 46. Lever 56 is held up in the normal position shown against a. stop 60 by al retractile spring 62. l

In operation of the device the mechanism of the right hand half of Figure 1 is so connected to the tank of the automobile and to some indicating device connected therewith that when there is sutlicient gasoline in the tank for safety the parts will assume the postion shown at the right hand half of Figure 1. The fluctuation of the gasoline level (not shown) in the tank 10 actuates a gage attached thereto, particularly a rotat- 1ng arrow indicator, connected to a float (not shown) in the tank, and engaged by addi tional mechanism towhich one ,end of a cord is fastened, similar to that shown in Fig. Thus, as the gasoline in the tank is consumed and reaches a predetermined low level, the cord 24, also fastened to arm 34 of the switch mechanism, is wound to the left on drum 22 as viewed in the drawings, drawing arm 34 and bridging contact 42 in engagement with contacts 44 and 46 until and after arm 34 is brought to bear against arm 56 when the entire mechanism may move as the float continues downward to its lowest level. In this position electric current is passed thru the circuits not shown herein, from the wire 52 to contact 44 and 42 and spring 40and thence to `ground, and from Wire v54 to contact 46 and 42 and to sprin 40 and thence to ground. As the contents of the tank 10 lower rope 24 is further pulled to 'the left thus simultaneously rotating the bell crank about its axis 32, and the lever 56 about its axis 58 in a clockwise direction,thus continuing contact 42 in engagement with contacts 44 and 46, and thus continuing the signals which maybe operated by the circuits Awhich include wires 52 and 54.

If for any reason it is desired to do so, arm 36 may be made of insulating material, so that electric current entering wire 52 will pass from Contact 44, thru ball 42, contact 46 and thence out wire 54, this without departing lfrom this invention.

By placing the pivots 32 and 58 side by side and letting the lever 56 pass around the bell crank a switch construction of very low depth perpendicular to Figure l is rendered possible.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Let` ters Patent, is

1. In mechanism of the class described, a supporting base, a bell crank pivoted to said base, a lever pivoted immediately adjacent to the pivot of the bell crank, means con nected to one arm of the bell crank for operatingit, an electric switch mechanism carried by the lever, means on the second bell crank arm for operating said switch mechanism whereby as the bell crank is rotated to bring the switch operating' mechanism in engagement with the switch parts, the switch parts and operating mechanism move in connected relation to each other about the pivots of the bell crank and lever, as the bell crank is further rotated.

2. In mechanism of the class described, a supporting mechanism containing a pair of electric contacts spaced apart one `from the other, a switch closing means for bridging the space between said contacts, means supporting the switch closing means movable toward the contacts and means sustaining the first mentioned supporting means to move in the general direction of and in unison with the switch closing means, for the purposes set forth.

3. In mechanism of the class described, the combination of a suitable base, a bell crank having two arms 34, 36 pivoted at 32, an angular lever 56 pivoted at 53 adjacent to the pivot 32 and extending around one arm of the bell crank, an electric switch mechanism carried by the portion 56 of the lever, an electric contact member 42 carried by the arm 36 of the bell crank, a spring 40 normally holding said bell crank with. the contact 42 out of engagement with the switch mechanism, a spring 62 normally holding the lever 56 against a stop 60, the whole so arranged that when bell crank arm 34 is pulled to rotate the contact member 42 to- Ward the switch mechanism the lever 56 swings in substantially the path of travel of the contact member 42, for thepurposes sot forth.

In witness whereof, I vhave hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM S. LA LONDE. IVitnesses DWIGHT B. CHEEVER, ANNA RosnN'rnAL. 

